EXCLUSIVE: Nearly 200 firearms incidents have been reported in Kirklees in under three years - but only 16 people have been convicted

Shootings in Huddersfield (clockwise): CCTV shows gunman pointing a rifle at a victim on a street in Birkby; police tape in Dewsbury after a firearms incident; gun found on the passenger seat of a car on Manchester Road in Thornton Lodge

Kirklees' gun problem has been laid bare in grim statistics that reveal the number of shootings and other firearms incidents in the district over the past two and a half years.

A Freedom of Information request submitted to West Yorkshire Police by ExaminerLive revealed there were 193 incidents involving guns in the Kirklees district since 2015. These range from weapons being fired, threatening someone with a gun, to people being caught or seen carrying one.

Of these, only 16 people were later convicted for firearms offences in court. A total of 79 people have also been injured as a result of weapons being fired.

Raja's takeaway boss Arshad Mahmood was seriously injured after being shot at the shop on Bradford Road

West Yorkshire Police have responded to the figures by saying they carry out specialist detective-led investigations into every case where a gun is fired.

Last year was the worst year for gun crime, with a staggering 59 incidents, and 27 people injured. Officers arrested 55 people in connection with these, but only managed to charge 10. Of these 10, eight people were convicted.

The number of incidents has slowly crept up since 2015, when there were 46 reports of someone using or in possession of a firearm, 17 people injured, and 23 arrests made in connection. Only three people were charged, of which two were convicted.

In 2016, Kirklees police recorded 52 cases where a gun was fired, used or seen, resulting in 23 people being injured. Officers arrested 39 people in connection, managing to gather enough evidence to charge 13 of those people. Six of those were convicted.

This year alone there have already been 36 recorded firearms incidents in the district, with 12 people injured. Police say they have arrested 28 people, and charged three. These figures however are not clear-cut, as since originally submitting the request at the beginning of August, ExaminerLive has reported on two further shootings at a teenage boy in Fartown, and outside Peppers takeaway in Birkby.

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The numbers disclosed by police show no convictions yet for gun crime this year, however one man was jailed for ten years in July for being a getaway driver for a man who shot at a crowd of people in Almondbury.

The figures also revealed that 116 of the shootings related to a ball-bearing gun, which only cause fatal or serious injuries in rare cases where a person is shot at close range. Four of the 193 records meanwhile relate to CS gas weapons.

Superintendent Marianne Huison, of Kirklees District Police, said: “The discharge of a firearm is a serious matter and investigations into these incidents are led by specialist detectives from West Yorkshire Police’s Firearms Prevent Team and at a local level by Kirklees’ crime team.

“It is important to note that a firearm will not have been discharged in all of these incidents. The figures represent all incidents where a firearm has been reported to have been seen or involved, and not necessarily discharged.

Firearms-related incidents reported in Kirklees between 2015 to present

Year

No. of incidents

Injuries

Arrests

Charged

Convicted

2015

46

17

23

3

2

2016

52

23

39

13

6

2017

59

27

55

10

8

2018 YTD

36

12

28

3

0

Total

193

79

145

29

16

“It is also worth noting that the majority – around 60% - of the incidents were involving a ball bearing gun.

“West Yorkshire Police remains committed to tackling criminals who use firearms of any type and works with partners across the Force area, and beyond, to make sure that the people who live, work and visit Kirklees remain safe.

“Only a small number of the incidents have resulted in serious injury or worse, but the consequences of discharging a firearm remain grave. There is no place for firearms in Kirklees. You will be arrested and will face a lengthy prison sentence if you are caught discharging a firearm.

“Anyone with concerns about firearms in their community is asked to report these to police through their local neighbourhood officers, or anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.”

Time Line

Timeline of notable gun crime incidents in Huddersfield since 2015

Gledholt, April 2015

A man suffered facial injuries after he was shot in a drive-by shooting on Heaton Road in Gledholt. The attack was believed to be targeted.

Crosland Moor, June 2015

Two men were hurt after being targeted in a shooting on Rudding Street, Crosland Moor, which was witnessed by children playing in the street.

Sheepridge, October 2016

Police were called to Brackenhall Road after reports of gunfire in the morning. Nobody was injured although five men were questioned in connection with the incident.

Dalton, Christmas Eve 2016

A car was damaged after being shot at on Harpe Inge in Dalton on Christmas Eve 2016. Luckily, no one was injured.

Shooting of Yassar Yaqub, January 2017

Mohammed Yassar Yaqub was killed when armed police chased down his car and shot at him on the M62 exit sliproad at Ainley Top after receiving intelligence there was a firearm in the vehicle.

Deighton, April 2017

Six people were question after reports of gunfire in Riddings Road, Deighton. Witnesses claimed to see two young men being chased by another holding a gun.

Spate of shootings, July 2017

The area was hit by a spate of shootings throughout July. Seven people were questioned after guns were fired on Dalton Fold, Dalton, The Ghyll in Fixby, New House Road in Sheepridge and The Holays in Rawthorpe, the last of which left a taxi driver injured.

Dalton, November 2017

A cyclist was injured after being chased and blasted with a gun outside a convenience store on Long Lane in Dalton. Two men were arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

Almondbury, February 2018

A gun was fired at a group of young men on Almondbury Bank, although luckily nobody was injured. Darcy White, from Southowram near Halifax, was charged, convicted and jailed for ten years at Leeds Crown Court for being the getaway driver in the incident. White refused to disclose the name of the shooter.

Raja's takeaway, March 2018

The manager of Raja's takeaway on Bradford Road at Hillhouses was seriously injured after he was shot by a gunman demanding cash from the till. Adil Arshad Mahmood was left intensive care after being shot three times. Two men were charged with attempted murder in connection with the shooting, but later had all charges dropped.

Birkby, June 2018

This shocking picture was released after a man was shot on the ground on Arnold Street. He received serious injuries to his legs from the gunshot wounds. Muhammed Baig, 23, was later charged with attempted murder and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.

Carnival shooting, July 2018

People enjoying Huddersfield Carnival were left terrified after gun shots were fired on Great Northern Street. Two vehicles were damaged, although nobody was injured. Armed police carried out two days of raids on homes in connection with the shooting, arresting four people including a 14-year-old boy.

Spate of shootings, August 2018

Officers cordoned off Blacker Road in Birkby after reports of gunfire late one night. Less than 48 hours later, a weapon was discharged on Ruskin Grove, Sheepridge, nearly hitting a 14-year-old boy. Later in the month, another shooting was reported at Peppers takeaway in Birkby, where a bullet hit the window and one man was injured by shattered glass. The shooting followed a knife attack nearby at Huddersfield Hospital in Birkby, and the two were thought to be connected.